Pictured: musicians' seats backstage. In some performanes of traditional Chinese opera ('Xiqu') the musicians sit on either side of the stage, depending on what kind of instrument they play. The two sides are sometimes refered to as the 'wen' (letter) side, and the 'wu'(military) side. String instruments belong to the former, while the drums and gongs belong to the latter.

Chaoju, or Chaozhou (Teochew) opera, is one variation of the traditional Chinese opera ('Xiqu'). Chaoju shares similar texts and style of performance with other variations (such as Yueju, or Cantonese opera) of Xiqu, although the language it is performed in is the Chinese dialect of the Chaozhou province.